Adjustable book-support



(No Model.)

W. 0. JOHNSON.

ADJUSTABLE BOOK SUPPORT.

WITNESSES:

i ATEN'I Fries.

WILLIAM OSCAR JOHNSON, OF KAUFMAN, TEXAS.

ADJUSTABLE BOOK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,499, dated. November 25,1884.

Application filed April 7, 1884. (l\o model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. J oHNsoN, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Kaufman, in .the county of Kaufman and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Book-Supports; and I do hereby declare that the follow-' ing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved book-rest, and Fig. 2 is asimilar view of one of the clamps. I

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

My invention has relation to book-rests; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letterA indicates the base, which is provided with a projection having two upright lips, B, between which the supporting-rod O is pivoted upon a set-screw, D, fitting and turning in perforations in thelips. If desired to place the upright or supportingrod upon a chair or similar object, the said object may be provided with asuitable bearing, in which the end of the rod may be pivoted; and the joint may be of any other suitable construction, if desired.

E is the lower supporting crossbar, which is preferably made of sheetmetal bent at a right angle, and provided upon the center of its back with a socket, F, which slides snugly upon the upright, and may be secured upon the same by means of a set-screw, G, the socket being of a form corresponding to the shape of a the upright.

H is the upper cross-bar, which is provided with a socket, I, upon its back, which slides upon the upright, and may be secured at any point upon the same by means of a set-screw, J. Two spring-clamps, K, slide upon the ends or arms of the upper crossbar, and the said clamps are formed of a piece of fiat springmetal bent at one end to form a slide, L, by simply doubling the end of the spring, where upon the central portion of the spring is curved rearward, and thereupon forward, forming a curved yielding spring, and the other end is bent to form a transverse eye, M, in which a wire loop, N, is hinged, the ends of which loop are secured in one side of a block, 0, which is adapted to bear against the page of the book. A curved thumb-piece, P, is secured upon'the curved portion of the spring, its inner end being wider than the spring, and having the overlapping flaps Q bent under both edges of the spring, clamping the same. the pages of the book, bearing with their hinged blocks against them; and it will be seen that by pressing back upon the thumbpieces the clamps may be released and the leaves of the book tu rn ed or the book removed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States The combination, in a book-rest, of an upright pivoted in a support or base, a sliding lower supporting cross-bar, an upper sliding supporting-bar, both bars having sockets upon their rear sides sliding upon the upright and provided with set-screws, and leaf-clamps consisting'of a piece of spring doubled at one end to form slides sliding upon the arms of the upper cross-bar, forming curved yielding portions, forming transverse eyes at the other ends, having flat blocks hinged in the said eyes, and provided with thumb-pieces secured upon the curved portions of the springs by the flaps of their enlarged innerends bent under the edges of the springs, as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

In' testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto ailixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM OSCAR JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

P. M. MooRHoUsE, H. N. HOFFER.

These springs serve to clamp 

